FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 13, 2016
CONTACT: Blanca Gallegos
213-500-9594
bgallegos@seiu99.org
At the urging of Lunch Ladies, Custodians and Classroom Aides working for the Compton School District, Board Members pass resolution in support of November ballot initiative
The Nutrition Supervisors, Custodial Plant Managers, Early Education Workers, Teacher Assistants, Special Education Assistants, Campus Safety Personnel and other school employees of SEIU Local 99 urged School Board Members at the Compton School District to pass a resolution in support of a ballot initiative that will extend by 12 years the current tax rate on the wealthiest 2% of Californians. Most of the money raised through this current additional tax is funneled into a dedicated education fund that has helped California schools turn a corner after devastating years of education cuts.
“There was a hiring freeze and we were really understaffed. There was an increase in worker injuries. But even worse, it was the students who really suffered. I remember we had severe flu outbreaks because we had to rotate custodial services to every other day. We can’t go back to that,” said Adrian Cleveland, a custodial Plant Manager at the district. “I’m going to get involved in voter education about why Prop. 55 is so important. And I applaud the School Board for urging voters to vote ‘YES!’ on 55!”
In 2012, SEIU Local 99 members played a huge role in voter turnout for Proposition 30, which called on the richest Californians to pay their fair share with a slight income tax increase. Its passage put an end to the massive cuts—$56 billion—to education, healthcare and other critical services and ended years of layoffs, overcrowded classrooms and community college tuition hikes.
“SEIU Local 99 members had a front-row seat on the devastating impact of state budget cuts to our schools and community colleges,” said SEIU Local 99 Executive Director Max Arias. “Not just as employees, but also as parents of children in our schools. The cuts meant that children had no time to eat lunch because the lines were too long in the short-staffed cafeteria. Cuts meant the child with asthma struggled in classrooms that could only be swept once a week. Cuts meant parents scrambled because their child’s bus route was eliminated. We can’t go back to cuts.”
To ensure passage of Prop. 55, SEIU Local 99 members will conduct an extensive voter outreach campaign, including phone calls, neighborhood walks and mailed information about this important ballot initiative.
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SEIU Local 99 represents nearly 40,000 employees in public and non-public organizations in early education, child care, K-12, and community college levels. SEIU Local 99 members are: Teacher’s Assistants, Playground Workers, Special Education Assistants, Bus Drivers, Gardeners, Custodians, Cafeteria Workers, Maintenance Workers, Family Service Workers, Child Care Providers, and others working in schools, colleges, and administrative offices throughout Southern California.
